Coun Baines believes a combination of local and national issues contributed to the losses, including a backlash over the Local Plan and the public’s growing frustrations over Brexit.

The Labour councillor said there are “lessons to learn” and said the party need to make sure it learns the right ones.

“I would hope we can work to start winning those seats back,” Coun Baines said.

“I think what we need to do is listen to our communities and start representing our communities again.

“We need to start working together for the good of the borough, for the good of the communities that we serve, with Labour values.

“We’re a Labour council and we need to start sharing those values and shouting about the good things that we’re doing and making some much-needed progress on big things that residents have been crying out for years, like the town centre, like decent affordable housing and jobs.

“We need to see progress on those things.”

Now the election is out of the way, Coun Baines will turn his attention to the Labour group’s leadership contest set for next Tuesday.

He will be going up against Marlene Quinn, Jeanie Bell and John Wiseman.

Coun Baines said: “There are four good candidates for that role.

“It is something I’m keen to do but obviously that’s an internal Labour Party matter.”

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